Bug catcher and ejector

ABSTRACT

A suction type bug catcher and ejector comprising a manually operated piston in a cylinder having a bug confining cell which holds bugs captive that are caught with the air drawn into the cylinder by the inward movement of the piston. An air vent is provided to exhaust the air from the cylinder and bug confining cell when moving the piston outwardly to reset it for a subsequent suction stroke. The bugs captured are ejected from the confining cell when the piston is moved forcefully outward while the vent is closed.

United States Patent [191 Fisk [4 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [5 BUG CATCHER ANDEJECTOR 1,797,557 3/1931 Stine et al ..43 139 3,231,997 2/1966 Shugarman...43/134 [76] Inventor: Edwin J. Fisk, 36260 Lake Shore 3 1 l M I 43 4Blvd. Apt. 114, Easflake Ohio ,486,264 2/ 969 ounier et a 44094 PrimaryExaminerWarner H. Camp [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1970 Appl. No.: 72,984

[52] US. Cl ..43/l34 [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lm 5/02 [58] Field of Search..43/l34, 135, 139, 4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,184,878 5/1965 Senne..43/4

454,720 6/1891 Dexter ....43/l39 1,329,534 2/1920 McGrath ..43/135 [57]ABSTRACT A suction type bug catcher and ejector comprising a manuallyoperated piston in a cylinder having a bug confining cell which holdsbugs captive that are caught with the air drawn into the cylinder by thein ward movement of the piston. An air vent is provided to exhaust theair from the cylinder and bug confining cell when moving the pistonoutwardly to reset it for a subsequent suction stroke. The bugs capturedare ejected from the confining cell when the piston is moved forcefullyoutward while the vent is closed.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BUG CATCHER AND EJECTOR This inventionrelates to the capture and disposal of bugs and insects in general suchas flies, hornets, spiders, crickets and roaches that may be present inan abode for people, or any enclosure reserved for people such as avehicle, home or tent.

The principle object is to provide mechanical means instead of poisonousspray to destroy unwanted bugs in stores, restaurants, nurseries,hospitals, schools and living place where poisonous spray would beharmful to the inhabitants and/or damaging to food.

Another object is to provide means for the capture of bugs whether theyare moving or at rest, without the need of squashing them to make theminactive.

Another object is to provide means for the entrapping of crawling,hopping and flying bugs, by the flow of ambient air into a bug confiningcell by suction, and subsequently ejecting such bugs by a forcefulexpulsion of air from the means, to effect their demise.

Another object is to provide means for the entrapping of insects in achamber having a flexible selfclosing trap gate which is normally closedbut will open by a substantial flow of air, to admit or eject insects.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and accompartying drawing in which:

FIG, 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, which shows the trap gatein a normal and closed position;

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view similar to FIG. 2 but with the trap gate shownopen during the inflow of air;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 in FIG. 3 showing trap endportion of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but with the trap gateshown open during the expulsion of air.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing and FIGS. 1 through 5, theinvention comprises a hollow cylindrical body which has at one end a cap11 with a centrally disposed hole 1 la to slidably support a piston rod12c of piston 12. The piston rod 120 has a piston head at one endarranged to be manually reciprocated within the body 10. The oppositeand outwardly extending end of the piston rod 12c has a handle 12a forthis purpose. The reciprocating movement of the piston head 12b willcause a flow of air through the open end 10a of the body 10 in samedirection the piston head is moved, to draw in by suction, air andinsects into the body 10, and/or expel air, ejecting any insect that hadbeen drawn into the body 10.

The open end 10a of the body 10 incorporates a flexible diaphragmaticmember 13, herein referred to as trap gate, and a screen barrier 14, inspaced relation to form a bug confining cell 15.

The trap gate 13 is preferably placed in from the open end rim 102 ofthe body 10 to provide the area 10a as an air and bug channeling mouth.Spacer sleeves 10b and 100 are provided to maintain a necessary spacedrelation between the rim 10s of the body 10, the trap gate 13 and thescreen barrier 14. A stop ring 10d is provided to locate the screenbarrier 14 a required distance from the rim 102. The spacer sleeves 10band 100 and the stop ring 10d are fastened to the body by an adhesivemedium.

The rim 106 of the body 10 and the sleeve 10b is undercut to formembrasures or recesses 10g to allow the inflow of air into the body 10during a time when the rim 10e has been placed over an insect or bug andagainst a wall or window glass.

The trap gate 13 is provided with radially disposed slots 13a divergingfrom a central hole 13b to form flexible sectors 130, which normallyremain flat and perpendicular to the body 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,in which position it forms a barrier between the open end 10a of thebody 10 and the confining cell 15.

In use, the open end 10a of the body 10 is moved into the proximity of abug to be captured, whether it is crawling or flying, at which time thehandle 12a of the piston 12 is pulled forcefully a few inches, to causea violent inflow of air into the body 10, and through the trap gate 13enlarging the central hole 13b, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to admit bugsand insects caught in the consequent air turbulence of the inflow.

The piston rod 12c is preferably tubular to provide an air vent from theface of the piston head 12b to the opening 12d at the end of the handle12a. The opening of the piston rod air vent 12d is covered by the usersthumb or palm during the time the piston is moved to intake or expel airwhen in the act of capturing or ejecting bugs that were captured.

When, in operation, the piston movement is stopped, the trap gate willspring back to its normal flat shape because the flow of air hasstopped; thereby confining any captured bug in the cell 15, as definedby the trap gate barrier 13, the screen barrier 14 within the body 10.

To keep bugs that have been captured within the confines of the cell 15while capturing still another, the air vent opening 12d in the pistonrod 12c is left uncovered and the piston 12 is then moved to itsoriginal air and bug intake position, at which time the air vent 12d isagain covered. Thus, the piston 12 can be reset for capturing additionalbugs by venting the air within the body 10 through the piston rod 120,without opening the trap gate 13, and inadvertently release those bugsalready confined in the cell 15.

To eject the captured bugs from the cell 15, the piston 12 is drawn backin a direction away from the body 10, and with the piston rod ventopening 12d covered by thumb or palm, the piston is forcefully pushedintermittently a few inches at a time, to cause violent gusts ofoutflowing air through the cell 15, bending the flexible sectors of thetrap gate 13, as shown in FIG. 5, enlarging the central hole 13b toprovide an egress for the bugs being blown from the cell 15.

The space within the body 10 between the cap 11 and the piston head 12bis provided with air vents v, in the body 10 and the cap 11.

Iclaim:

1. A suction type bug catcher and ejector comprising a hollowcylindrical body member having a cap at one end and is open at theopposite end and a bug confining cell therein consisting of aself-closing gate which opens to a forceful flow of air, and a screenbarrier; a piston arranged to be manually reciprocated within the bodymember by a piston rod slidably mounted in the cap, to cause a forcefulflow of air inwardly or out wardly of the body member through the saidopen end and self-closing gate and confining cell, in response to a likemovement of the piston; and an air vent extending from the body memberahead of the piston throughout the length of the piston rod, a ventopening at the end of the piston rod opposite of the piston, arranged tobe covered or uncovered to change the directional flow of air from thebody member when the piston is moved. toward the open end of the bodymember.

2. A suction type bug catcher and ejector comprising a hollowcylindrical body member having a cap at one end and is open at theopposite end and a bug confining cell therein consisting of aself-closing gate which opens to a forceful flow of air, and a screenbarrier; a

1. A suction type bug catcher and ejector comprising a hollowcylindrical body member having a cap at one end and is open at theopposite end and a bug confining cell therein consisting of aself-closing gate which opens to a forceful flow of air, and a screenbarrier; a piston arranged to be manually reciprocated within the bodymember by a piston rod slidably mounted in the cap, to cause a forcefulflow of air inwardly or outwardly of the body member through the saidopen end and self-closing gate and confining cell, in response to a likemovement of the piston; and an air vent extending from the body memberahead of the piston throughout the length of the piston rod, a ventopening at the end of the piston rod oppositE of the piston, arranged tobe covered or uncovered to change the directional flow of air from thebody member when the piston is moved toward the open end of the bodymember.
 2. A suction type bug catcher and ejector comprising a hollowcylindrical body member having a cap at one end and is open at theopposite end and a bug confining cell therein consisting of aself-closing gate which opens to a forceful flow of air, and a screenbarrier; a piston arranged to be manually reciprocated within the bodymember by a piston rod slidably mounted in the cap, to cause a forcefulflow of air inwardly or outwardly of the body member through the saidopen end and self-closing gate and confining cell in response to a likemovement of the piston; the rim of the said open end of the body memberhaving recessed portions to allow the inflow of air when the said openend has been blocked.